GIZ facilitates data collection with IT equipment
Empowering accessibility
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through its Sustainable Development Goals Initiative (SDGI) and its Leave No One Behind principle, handed over essential IT equipment to the Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).The handover took place at the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) in Okuryangava earlier this week.
The IT equipment will facilitate data collection and mark the final activities of the GIZ Disability Data Collection Project. The Data Collection Project started in 2021 and will end in 2023. The data gathered will make the OPDs vital hubs for collecting high-quality disability-related data to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.
An assessment conducted in 2022 by Green Enterprise Solutions and disability expert consultant, Ebenhard Ripunda, who revealed critical gaps in IT infrastructure among OPDs. GIZ partnered with OPDs to bridge these gaps and bolster its data collection capabilities.
The donation includes desktop computers, monitors, and tablets, designed to enable effective data digitization, storage, and advocacy.
Ripunda recently also trained OPD leaders and assistants in using the Kobo toolbox and Kobo Collect applications. Kobo Toolbox is a free open-source tool for data collection that allows users to collect data using mobile devices as well as with paper or computers. It is particularly useful in membership registration, needs assessments, monitoring and other data collection activities.
Rachel Shiweda, a technical advisor from GIZ, highlighted the transformative potential of the collected data. “The data being collected can be used by our policymakers for better policies and also by OPDs to advocate better for their needs and services for their members.”
This project is crucial, as accurate and up-to-date disability data is essential to informed policymaking and effective advocacy. OPDs play a pivotal role in both domains.
A spokesperson from one of the OPDs expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “We are grateful for the IT device donations from GIZ. This contribution will significantly enhance our operational efficiency and, most importantly, enable us to capture disaggregated data for people with disabilities.”